Again to Puget Sound, arguably the perfect sound in all of MLS. I’m an particularly huge fan of that space after the Loons 3-2 win on the market again in June, however hey, that was then and that is now. Let’s not dwell on the previous when postseason development is on the road! After their Sport 1 shootout victory, your Loons are one win away from eliminating the Sounders from the playoffs, and with Sport 2 heading again to the land of orcas and rain, it’s going to take one other street win to wrap issues up this Monday.
Minnesota United (16-8-10)
Run of Type: W-L-W-D-L
Your Loons are versatile. That’s not one thing I believed I’d be saying a number of months in the past, when each recreation began and ended with an unwavering fashion of play that stymied even probably the most artistic of attacking makes an attempt. However the opening half-hour of Sport 1 had been open, end-to-end, and really entertaining. After producing a number of clear probabilities, the Loons switched up the pacing of the sport to frustrate the guests, and after almost discovering a set-piece winner in a much more managed second half, they relied on their glorious goalkeeper to get the shootout win. They’ve confirmed that they’re resilient, adaptable, and disciplined, and that simply may be the right combo to brush this sequence.
Seattle Sounders (15-9-10)
Run of Type: L-W-W-W-D
Alright, technically they tied their final match, but when we rely the shootout, the Sounders have formally misplaced their unbeaten streak. Monday’s 0-0 draw was additionally the primary time in 10 video games that Seattle has been held scoreless, a feat that the Loons have now completed twice in the identical season. For a group that’s usually so good at creating and utilizing area, the Sounders have really met their match in opposition to this Loons aspect, who’ve made it their mission this season to regulate area, stay disciplined, and frustrate even probably the most artistic of opponents. After a lackluster efficiency from Jordan Morris and comparatively little assist for Jesus Ferreira and Cristian Roldan in Sport 1, the Sounders will want an injection of power in the event that they need to prolong their season past Monday.
Keys to the Match:
Ahead Pondering
One of many largest selections for Coach Ramsay to make forward of Sport 2 is on the very tip of the spear: Who’s our quantity 9? With Kelvin Yeboah again within the fold, probably the most conventional possibility is accessible. Bongokuhle Hlongwane received the beginning in Sport 1, although, and his pace helped to open up the sphere and stretch the opposition a tad greater than Yeboah usually does. There’s at all times the choice to maneuver both Robin Lod or Joaquín Pereyra up entrance as nicely, and with a flexible squad, the remainder of the lineup could be simple sufficient to backfill. The way in which I see it, Yeboah permits the Loons to play their extra defensive, disciplined fashion, whereas Bongi up prime makes for a way more back-and-forth, shootout form of match. Lod or Pereyra are most likely each extra helpful of their typical attacking midfield spots, however they provide yet one more form of profile that would change how the sport unfolds if positioned up prime, facilitating and holding the ball up moderately than making runs in behind. The person up entrance on Monday will say quite a bit about Coach Ramsay’s strategy to Sport 2 from a stylistic perspective, and it could possibly be the important thing as to if or not we’ll see a Sport 3.
We Can All the time Shoot It Out
Final season, Minnesota United received two straight shootouts to take down RSL in Spherical One. This 12 months, the Loons are even stronger defensively, permitting 10 fewer objectives than they did in 2024 and establishing one of many league’s most cussed, immovable types of play. They tied for the second-highest drawn matches within the Western Convention this season with 10 and put collectively one of many league’s finest away data in 2025 (30 factors from 17 video games). That statistical, historic cocktail combines to inform me one factor: If any group on this league must be assured of their means to get to a shootout and win it, it must be this one. Few groups have had as a lot success because the Loons have on the subject of defending on the street, as evidenced by their +8 objective distinction of their away exploits this season. With the likes of Dayne St. Clair holding down the fort within the again, a shootout begins to look much more interesting, particularly with a house recreation ready for you if issues don’t fairly fall your means. The Loons don’t essentially need to go for the throat on this one; they only need to climate the storm.
On the Line
The Sounders are formally in season-saving mode from right here on out. Their 12 months ends subsequent time they lose, which means we’ve simply put one of many league’s most dynamic groups on excessive alert. Hooray! With that further gas to fireplace them, there’s little doubt that Brian Schmetzer’s squad will likely be placing out a particularly attacking lineup in Sport 2, as they want objectives to maintain them alive. After their Leagues Cup triumph this season, they’ve not solely confirmed that they’ll rating objectives; they’ve proven that they’ll do it in high-pressure conditions. Possibly they wanted the added stress of impending elimination to grease their wheels. Possibly they want Jordan Morris to run round just a little bit greater than he did in Sport 1. Regardless, this Seattle group goes to wish to carry extra to this recreation than they’ve for any of the earlier three conferences between them and the Loons, and which means hassle. I wouldn’t be shocked if we noticed a slight change in formation and maybe the introduction of Giorgi Minoungou just a little earlier within the match to wreak just a little extra havoc together with his pace and one-on-one means.
